India, TN, Kanyakumari

Kanyakumari (Tamil: கன்னியாகுமரி) is the southern most tip of mainland India. A small town in the state of Tamil Nadu in India, it is often reached by air by flying to Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala (85 km (53 mi)). Kanyakumari takes its name from the Kumari Amman or Kanyakumari Temple, situated in the town, on the sea-shore. It is situated at the confluence of the three water-bodies – the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. Paravars ruled that Coast and built the temple for their reverence to the Sea Goddess.

On two rocky islets just off the shore, southeast of the Kumari Amman temple, are the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, built in 1970, and the gigantic 133 feet (41 m) tall statue of Tamil saint-poet Thiruvalluvar (Completed on January 1, 2000 by the legandary Dr. V. Ganapati Sthapati, Chennai). This is one of the biggest statues in Asia. One of the rocks called Sri Padhaparai is said to bear the footprints of the virgin goddess. Swami Vivekananda is said to have meditated on this rock for three days. Also on this rock, there is a Dhyana mandapam, an area for meditation. Ferry services are available to reach the memorial.